Steam-boiler indicator.



v. B. MARES. .STEAM BOILER INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 18, 1913.

1,095,012. Patented Apr.28,1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEETS.

wbb/womb@ V. B. MARES.

STEAM BOILER INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 1a, 191.3.

Patented Apr. 28, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEHTZ.

wuewcofp VBMWTS,

V. B. MARRS. STEAM BOILER INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 18, 15.313.

1 ,095,01/2', Patented Apr. 28, 1914. lf

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

VBarral SLW/hueso@ UNITED l STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VOLLIE B. MARRS, OIFv SANTA ANNA, TEXAS,` ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T0 D. J'. HARRIS, 0F SANTA ANNA, TEXAS, AND O'NE-EIGHTH TO WILLIAM HENRY BLAKEY,

0F BUCKl-IOLTZ, TEXAS.

STEAM-norman INnIoA'roRh Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 28, 1914.

Application led July 18, 1913. Serial No. 779,862.

To all whom 'it may concern.'

Be it known that I, VoLLIE B. MARES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Santa Anna, in the county of Coleman and State of Texas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Steam-Boiler Indicators, of which the following is a. specication.

This invention relates to improvements in steam boiler' indicators and has particular application to a combination steam pressure and water level indicator.

In carrying out the present invention, it is my purpose to provide a device of the class described whereby when the water level within the boiler has dropped below a predetermined point, a signal will be give-n so as to advise the engineman of the condition ofthe water and by means. of which an alarm will be sounded in the event of the steam pressure exceeding a predetermined point or dropping' below such point.

It is also my purpose to provide a device of the class described whereby the signals for indicating the increase and decrease in the steam pressure and the fall of the water level will have relatively different tones so that the engineman will be advised as to the proper course topursue'without resorting to the usual tests.

Furthermore, I aim to provide a steam boiler indicator whereby a signal will be given when the water Within the boiler falls below a predetermined level and by means of which a second signal will sound when such level has been restored to normal so that the engineman will benotified when to cut out the pump or injector.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a steam boiler indicator which will embrace the desired features of simplicity, eliciency and durability', one which will operate at all 'times for its various purposes and one which may be readily applied to any type of steam boiler without resorting to changes or alterations in the boiler structure.

Witlrthe above and other'objectsin view, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter set forth in and falling within the scope of the claims.

In the accompanying drawings; Figure l is a View'in elevation of a steam boiler indicator constructed in accordance with my present invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical central sectional view through the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view through the upper portion of the indicator showing the water level signals. Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan view of one of the controlling valves of the indicator. Fig. 5 is a similar view of an actuating device for lthe controlling valve. Fig. 6 is a frag- .ner surfaces of the side walls thereof threadedly engaging the adjacent ends of the casing. This casing 1 is divided into a number of compartments, three being shown in the present instance at 4:, 5 and 6, partitions 7 within the body 1 and suitably spaced apart separating the chambers.

In the present instance, the chambers 4 and 5 are adapted to have communication with each other under certain conditions and for this purpose the respective partition7 is provided with a nipple 8 depending a short distance intothe chamber 5 and carrying at its lower end a valve casing in which is rotatably mounted a valve and connected to the stem of such valve is a handle 10 to the free end of which vis fastened through the medium of a pin and slot connection 11 a depending link 12 having the lower end thereof fastened to a float 13 disposed within the chamber 5 and equipped on its under surface with a weight 14. Leading vinto the chamber 5 adjacent to the top and bottom ends thereof are nipples 15, 16, the former being adapted to have communication with the steam space of a boiler while the latter is designed to communicate with the water space thereof, so that under norma-l conditions, the float 13 will be balanced and maintain a position approxif,

-their limit of downward movement. Passed through the side wall of the upper chamber 4 adjacent tothe-bottom thereof is a pipe 19 equipped at its outer end with an audible signal in the present instance in the'form of' a whistle 2() and having the inner end thereof provided with a controlling valve 2l which in this embodiment of my invention 'comprises an annular disk 22 formed with an outwardly projecting concentrically disposed lange 23 threadedinteriorly to receive the inner end of the pipe 19, the cen-v tral portion of the Adisk 22 being provided with an aperture 24 coaxial with the pipe 19. Pivotally mounted on the outer face of the disk 22 at diametrically opposite points are sector-like plates 25, 26 having the inner ends thereof overlapping each other and the outer or relatively small ends projecting beyond the periphery of the disk 22, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 4. These sector-shaped plates 25 and 26 are adapted for swinging movement in a vertical plane and the path of movement of the plate 26 is preferably greater than that of the plate 25. Each plate 25, 26 is formed with a segmental slot 27 designed to receive a pin 28 carried by the adjacent portion of the disk 22 and designed to limit the swinging movement of the sector-like plates, the4 slot in the plate 26 being relatively long as compared with the length of the slot in the plate 25, incident to the path of movement of the plate 26 being greater than that of the plate 25. The relatively large end of the plate 25 is formed with an aperture 29 disposed adjacent to and immediately above the aperture 24 in the center of the disk 22, while the similar end of ,the plate 26-is formed with an aperture 30 disposed adjacent to and i1n mediately above the aperture 29 in the respective end of the plate 25. Springs 31 each having one end fastened to one of the plates 25, 26 and the opposite end secured to the disk 22 act to hold the plates in normal.positions and the apertures 24, 29 and 30 out of registration so that communication between 'the chamber 4 and the whistle 20 is normally cut oli.

Depending from the piston 17 within the chamber 4 and suitably secured thereto is an actuating device composed, in the present instance, of an arm 32 carrying at its lower end a yoke 33 having a short arm 34 and a relatively long arm 35 each provided with a laterally projecting pin 36 at its lower end.-

The pin 36 on the short arm 34 is normally disposed below a spring dog 37 on the relatively small' end of the sector-like plate 25, while the pin 36 on the arm 35 is similarly located with ,respect to a spring dog 38 on the relatively small end of the sector-like plate 26. Extending outwardly of the side wall of the chamber 4 at a point diametrically opposite the pipe 19 is a second pipe 39 having` the inner end` thereof equipped with a valve` 40 provided with a handle 41 conncted through the medium of a pin and slot connection 42 with a depending link 43 having the lower end thereof suitably secured to the handle 10 of the valve within the casing 9. The outer end of the pipe 39 is equipped with a signal, in the present instance, preferably in the form of a whistle 44. A water glass 45 is suitably fastened to the side wall of the chamber 5 at a point diametrically opposite the nipples 15 and 16 and has communication with such' chamber through suitable connections.

The operation of the signals 20 and 44 may be briefly described as follows: When the water within the boiler is at its normal level the float 13 maintains a' positionapproximately centrally of the chamber 5, being balanced on the water on the under side and the steam on the upper side, and so `holds the valve within the casing 9 in closed position thereby cutting olf communication between the chambers 4 and 5. When the level of the water within tlieboiler drops below normal, the float 13 descends and so opens the valve within the casing 9 thereby permitting the steam to pass from the steam space of the boiler through the nipple 8 and into the upper portion of the chamber 5 and thence through the nipple 8 into the chamber 4 below the piston 17 therein. As the steam enters the chamber 4, such steam acts upon the lower face of the piston 1,7 to force the latter upwardly within the chamber 4 and against the action of the spring 18. As the piston 17 moves upwardly within the chamber 4, an actuating device consisting of the lis arm 32 and the yoke 33 is similarly moved and the pin 36 on the arm 35 of the yoke engages the dog 38 on the relatively small end of the sector-like plate 26 thereby swinging the latter about its pivotal connection with the disk 22 to bringthe opening 30 therein into registration with the aperture 24 in the disk. Subsequent to the swinging movement of the plate 26 to bring the apertures 30 and 24 into registration, the pin 36 on the end of the arm 34 of the yoke engages the dog 37 of the plate 25 and swings the latter about its pivotal connection with the disk 22 to bring the aperture 29 in such plate into registration with the alining apertures 24 and 30. Thus, the steam within the chamber 4 is permitted to pass through the I whistle 20 by way of the pipe 19 and so sound the flow of steam within the chamber 4 is cut off, the spring18 reacts andI so forces the piston 17 downwardly. As the valve within the casing 9 closes, motion is imparted to the valve 40 through the medium of the link y42 and handle 41 to open the latter valve whereby the. steam will be forced out of the i chamber 4, under the action of't-he piston 17 Vso and spring 18, and through the whistle 44, thereby sounding the latter and notifying the engineman that the water level within the boiler has been restored t0 normal.- In the downward movement of thepiston 17 under the action of the spring 18, the pins 36 carried by the arms 34 and 35 of the yoke 33 idle over the spring dogs 37 and 38 thereby permitting the controlling valvel 21 to remain inactive in the downward movement of the actuating device, it of course being understood that the springs 31, 31 restore the sector-like plates 25 and 26 of the controlling valve to normal position after the piston 17 has beenvelevated within a certain distance.

Extending outwardly through the side wall of the chamber 6 at'diametrically opposit`e points are pipes 46',l 47 equipped at their outer ends with whistles 48, 48 of relatively ditferent tones. The inner end of each pipe 46 is projected downwardly within the chamber 6, as' clearly illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings, and has slidably mounted thereon an angular pipe 49 having the vertic al limb thereof provided with an outwardly extending guide shoe 50 designed to slide within a guideway 51 suitably secured to the inner wall of the chamber below the respective pipe. Swiveled or otherwise connected to the horizontal member of each angular pipe 4,9 is a regulating screw 52 threadedly engaging the wall of an aperture 53 formed in the lower cap Band equipped, eXteriorly 'of such cap, with a manipulating head 54. Mounted uponthe free end of the horizontal limbof each pipe 49 is a controlling valve 55, the controlling valve on the pipe 49 connected to the pipe 47 being identical in construction to the valve 21 hereinbefore described, while the valve on the pipe 49 connected to the pipe 46 is constructed similarly to the other valve 55 but has the apertures 29 ,the chamber 4 and `3O in the sector-like plates 25 and 26 respectively disposed below one another and the aperture 24 so .that communication will the whistle 48 on the pipe 46 when the relatively large ends o'f the sector-like plates of the valve swing upwardly. Depending from the piston 17 within the chamber G are actuating devices 56, 57, each of a construction identical to that of the actuating device hereinbeforev described. The actuating device 56 is designed to operate the valve v55 controlling .the pipe 46 on the up stroke of the piston 17, while 'the device 57 actuates the -res ectiveV valve on the down stroke ofl such plston. These whistles 48, 48 are designed vto sound an alarm in accordance with the fluctuations of the steam pressure within the boiler and the vcap 3 is provided with a depending nipple 58 adapted to be connected to the steam space of the boiler so that the vchamber 6 will be in communicat-ion with such space and the piston 17 held in normal position a ainst the action of the spring 18. Should t` e' steam pressure within the boiler fall below the predetermined number of pounds, the piston 17 within the chamber 6 will move downwardly under the action of the sprin` 18 and the actuating device 57 operate t e valve 55 controlling the flow of steam through the pipe 47 whereby'thasteam will ass'through the pipe 47 andv intothe ywhistle 48 and sound the latter so asto warn the engineman. On the contrary, should the steam pressure rise, the piston 17 will move upwardly against the action of the spring 18 and the actuating device 56 open the valve 55 with the eli'ect to place the whistle 48y inl communication with thev chamber 6 by wayl `of the pipe 46. Thus, the engineman will be advised as to the steam pressure. A suitable pressure gage v59 1s preferably tapped onto the chamber 6 so that the pressurewithin the boiler -may be at all times ascertained.

. From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanylng drawings, the construction,- mode of operation and manner of employing my invention will be readily apparent. It will be seentliat I have provided a steam boiler indicatorwhereby the engineman will be automatically advised when the water within the boiler falls below the predetermined level, whereby a signal will be given when the water level has been restored to normal, and whereby the engineman will be advised when the pressure of the' steam within the boiler has increased or decreased.

While 'l have herein shown and described one preferred form of my invention by way of illustration, l desire to have it understood that 1 do not limit orkconine myself to the precise details of construction herein described and delineated, as modification be established between the chamber 6 and and variation may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A steam boilerl indicator comprising a casing divided into a plurality of compartments, means adapted to establish communication between certain of said compartments, means establishing communication between one of said inter-communicating compartments and the boiler above and below the water line therein, means in said last compartment and controlled by the water level therein to operate said first means whereby communication between said compartments will be established. when the water level falls below normal, and an audible signal controlled from the other of said intercommunicating compartments and adapted to be sounded by the steam entering the lastnamed compartment when said first means is open.

2. A steam boiler indicator comprising a casing divided into a plurality of compartments, means adapted to establish communication between certain of said compartments, means establishing communication between one of said interco-mmunicating compartments and the boiler above and below the water line therein, means in said last compartment and controlled by the water level therein to operate said first means whereby con'nnunication between said compartments will be established when the water level falls below normal, an audible signal controlled from the other of said intercommunicating compartments and adapted to be sounded by 'the steam entering the lastnamed compartment when said first means is open, and a second signal controlled from the last-named compartment and adapted to sound when said first means has closed subsequent to the opening thereof.

3. A steam boiler indicator comprising a casing divide-d into a plurality of compartn'ients, means adapted to establish communication between certain of said compartments, means establishing communication between one of said intercommunicating compartments and the boiler above and below the water line therein, means in said last compartment` and controlled by the water level therein to operate said rst means whereby communication between said compartments will be established when the water level falls below normal, an audible signal controlled from the other of said intercommunicating comp artments and adapted to be sounded by the steam entering the lastnamed compartment when said first means is'open, a second signal controlled from the last-named compartment and adapted to sound when said first means has closed subsequent to the opening thereof, and means controlling communication between said `last-named signal and compartment and operated from said first means.

4. A steam boiler indicator comprisingla casing' divided into three compartments, means adapted to establish communication between certain of said compartments, means establishing communication between one of said intercommunicating compartments and the vboiler above and below the water line therein, means in said last compartment and controlled by the water level therein to operate said'first means whereby communication between said compartments will be established when the water level falls below nor-A mal, an audible signal controlled from the other of said intercommunicating compartments and adapted to be sounded by the steam entering the last-named compartment when said first means is open, audible signals controlled from the remaining compartment, a connection between said lastlcompartment and the steam space of the 

